National Two South
Lydney 36
Hinckley 25
THOUGH not always fluent, Lydney comfortably saw off lowly Hinckley with a five-try victory at Regentsholme.
Lydney effectively wrapped this game up in the first-half with tries from Ben Lewis, Josh Hannam and Will Kane.
The second-half was scrappy – thanks to a very muddy pitch, a flurry of yellow cards and injuries and some interesting interpretations of the laws by the Italian referee.
However, Lydney made the game safe with further touchdowns from skipper Will Jones and Jim McMahon.
Brett Turner booted four conversions and a penalty, but there were yellow cards for front-row men Ben Lewis and Nick Selway in the second-half.
Lewis was sidelined for a swinging arm and Selway for an off-the-ball shoulder challenge.
Lydney skipper Will Jones said: "We played well in patches.
"We scored three early tries and because we were on top I think we took our foot off the pedal.
"Hinckley were not the best but the conditions were difficult. I think they suited them more than us. We've played them in mud and rain both home and away."
Hinckley looked all at sea defensively as Lydney took a 21-8 lead into the break.
Ben Lewis pounced on a fumbled Craig Jones chip to score, while Hannam also forced his way over from a Jones chip and chase.
Kane strolled in when a Craig Jones pass left the Hinckley defence flat-footed.
Lydney secured the bonus point early in the second period when full-back Wicks broke clear at pace, before finding the unmarked Selway, who played in his captain for a try.
The visitors scored two second-half tries through Crooks and Harrop, but Lydney were always in command after McMahon burst through another defensive hole to get to the Hinckley line.
Will Jones added: "We got five points and we can't do anymore than that.
"We also had quite a few players missing. We were without Leigh Green and Dougie Freeman, while Butch Holder was on the bench because he's coming back to fitness. Matt Taylor was struggling with a calf injury and Paul Scott was on holiday.
"It meant I had to fill in at number eight which I don't really like doing, but sometimes you have to do these things for the team."
Lydney: Tony Wicks, Will Kane, Brett Turner, Josh Hannam, Charlie Vine, Craig Jones, Lee Thomas, Nick Stoneman, Ben Lewis, Nick Selway, James Bashford, Dave Bennett, Tim Longton, Will Jones (capt), Jim McMahon. Reps: Chris Holder for Craig Jones 53mins, Sam Chappell-Davis sin-bin rep for James Bashford 56mins, Rob Sargent for Will Kane 69mins, Dave Emery for James Bashford 69mins, Ashley Jennings for Nick Stoneman 74mins.